Rotatable cap with shoulder to retain removable core



March 14, 1967 F- J. RUSSELL ETAL 3,308,641

ROTATABLE GAP WITH SHOULDER T0 RETAIN REMOVABLE CORE Filed March 1, 1965 I, z y I v Fred J. Russell:

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"nite Sates This is a continuation-in-part of copendin g application, Ser. No. 283,388, filed May 27, 1966, now Patent No. 3,190,091.

The invention relates generally to locks and is one especially advantageous for use in connection with door locks. It concerns a construction for making it easy to remove one key-operated mechanism in order that another keyoperated mechanism can be substituted in the lock.

Where locks, and particularly door locks, are employed, there is always a demand for a lock which can be easily rekeyed in case, for example, keys become lost or get into the hands of unauthorized persons. The more usual expedients resorted to in the past have required disassembly or at least partial disassembly of the lock, or removal of the knob or other hand hold, in order to be able to reach releasing means of one kind or another which holds the key-actuated mechanism in place. Rekeying of structures like this is time consuming, annoying, and often expensive. Lock structures making it possible to rekey as suggested usually have been costly.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved lock construction which makes removal and replacement of a key-actuated mechanism an adjustment which can be accomplished with comparable ease.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction to permit removal and replacement of a key-operated mechanism which is relatively simple, in that it requires no special construction or machining of either the hand hold or the spindle in order to have it operate with adequate security, as well as minimizing time required to make the substitution.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved releasable means employed with a removable key-actuated mechanism which consists of a part separate from both the spindle and the knob, thereby permitting both the spindle and the knob to be of relatively conventional construction and requiring only that the intermediate part be especially constructed to form an anchoring device for the removable key-actuated mechanism, but which, once properly installed, is secure.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts-of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of door with a lock mounted thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of adequate portions of the lock which are located exterior with respect to the door.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, showing the key-actuated mechanism in released position.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view similar, to FIG- URE 3, showing the key-actuated mechanism in engaged position.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the hand hold, showing it mounted in reverse position.

3,398,641 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 "ice FIGURE 7 is an end perspective view of the rotatable cap against which the key-actuated mechanism is engaged, viewed from the inner end.

In an embodiment of the invention which has been chosen for the purpose of illustration, there is shown a fragment of door 10 having an outside face 11 upon which is mounted a lock construction indicated generally by the reference character 12. The lock construction 12 consists in part of a collar 13 around which is mounted a rose 14. Concentrically located within the collar 13 is a tubular spindle 15 having a wall 16 surrounding a central bore 17. From a free outer end 18 of the spindle extend two slots 19 and 20.

A hand hold here shown in the form of a knob 21 has a neck 22 surrounding the spindle 15. An end wall 23 of the knob 21 has an irregularly shaped opening 24 therein to accommodate a key-actuated mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 25, this being frequently called a core. The key-actuated mechanism 25 is of substantially conventional construction and includes a rotatable key plug 26 having a keyway 27 therein and a tumbler housing 28 extending laterally from one side. An opening 29 in the key-actuated mechanism 25, which extends forwardly from the inner end 30 for approximately half the length, accommodates an extendable and retractable gate 31. A tailpiece 32 extends from the key plug 26 into the lock construction 12 for the purpose of manipulating locking parts (not shown).

The gate 31 is adapted to be manipulated by a special key (not shown) which, when rotated, can either extend the gate 31 outwardly with respect to the opening 29 or withdraw it inwardly so it is substantially flush with the exterior of the key-actuated mechanism 25. A convention'al key (not shown) is one different from the special key and is used in the keyway 27 for normally manipulating the lock and the tailpiece 32.

Located between the end wall 23 and the outer end 18 of the spindle 15 is a cap indicated generally by the reference character 35 and shown separately in perspective view in FIGURE 7. In this form of the invention, the cap 35 is constructed with a flange 36 of relatively smaller diameter adapted to slide into the bore 17 of the spindle 15 and a flange 37 of relatively larger diameter, concentric with the flange 36 and spaced radially therefrom, providing a pocket 33 which is adapted to receive the outer end 18 of the spindle 15. Still another flange 39 extends outwardly into engagement with a portion of the irregular opening 24 of the end wall 23 of the knob 21.

It is important to note that the cap 35 has a split or cutout portion 40 on one side. The split 40 is made wide enough so as to slidably receive a portion 41 of the keyactuated mechanism 25 which is at the junction of the tumbler housing 28 with the main potrion of the key-actuated mechanism 25.

A keeper 45 has a tab 46 extending outwardly through a hole 47 in the spindle end and an aligned hole 48 in the neck 22 of the knob 21. An arcuate spring 44, opposite legs of which extend around the exterior of the spindle 15, has an opening 49 through which extends a button 50, forming part of the keeper 45, so that the spring 44 and the keeper 45 are held in operative relationship. Still another hole 51 in the spindle 15 slidably accommodates the main portion of the keeper 45. In the position shown in FIGURE 5, the keeper 45, by engagement with the spindle 15 and the neck 22, holds the knob 21 nonrotatably secured to the spindle 15.

In order to prevent removal of the knob 21 from the spindle 15 when the key-actuated mechanism 25 is unlocked, the keeper 45 is provided with a passage 52 through it which accommodates a rectangular section 53 of the tailpiece 32. The device is so arranged that, when the key-actuated mechanism 25 is locked, the rectangular section 53 is in the orientation shown in FIGURE 5. When this condition prevails, the keeper 45 cannot be shifted in a direction from right to left, as shown in FIG- URE 5, to release the neck 22 of the knob 21. Consequently, in locked condition, the cap 35 is firmly anchored between the end wall 23 and the outer end 18 of the spindle 15. In this condition, therefore, the inner edge 54 of the flange 36, which serves as a shoulder, is fixed in position.

It follows, therefore, that, when the knob 21 is assembled on the spindle 15, with the cap 35 anchored in position as described, the key-actuated mechanism 25 can be inserted through the end wall 23 and into the bore 17 of the spindle 15. On the assumption that the knob 21 is in the orientation shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 4, the keyactuated mechanism 25 will be inserted so that the tumbler housing 28 slides into the slot 20. To accomplish this, the special key is inserted in the keyway 27 to withdraw the gate 31. After the key-actuated mechanism 25 is extended inwardly to its proper position, the gate 31 is then extended to the position shown in FIGURE 4. In this position, an outwardly facing surface 55 of the gate 31 is projected into position behind the edge 54 of the flange 36, and this anchors the key-actuated mechanism 25 in position. The special key is then withdrawn, and the lock is ready for use.

When the key-actuated mechanism 25 is to be replaced, the special key is inserted in the keyw'ay 27 and the gate 31 withdrawn to the position shown in FIGURE 3. The key-actuated mechanism 25 can then be withdrawn and replaced by another. Should it be desired to invert the position of the key-actuated mechanism 25, the knob 21 can be withdrawn by depressing the keeper 45, inasmuch as rectangular section 53 will be rotated 90 degrees from the position in FIGURE 5, and the knob 21, after being Withdrawn, can be reapplied in reverse position, as pictured in FIGURE 6. At the same time, the cap 35 is rotated 180 degrees so that the split 40 in the cap 35 coincides with the new orientation of the irregular shaped opening 24 in the end wall 23. Then, when the keyactuated mechanism 25 is reinserted, it will be reinserted in reverse position; and, on this occasion, the tumbler housing 28 will be extended into the slot 19 instead of the slot 20. When the gate 31 is extended, however, it will again fall behind the edge 54 of the flange 36; and the gate 31 and the accompanying key-actuated mechanism 25 will be secured in position by the presence of the cap 35.

By making the cap 35 separate and apart from the knob 21 and the spindle 15, the cap 35 can be easily and inexpensively made by well-known machining methods and can be made of virtually any kind of material, irrespective of the materials chosen for the construction of the knob 21 of the spindle 15. Since there is relatively little strain experienced by the cap 35 and since it is securely anchored in operative position by being confined between the knob 21 and the spindle 15, the cap 35 will success- 4 fully serve the purpose of holding the key-actuated mechanism in position with adequate security.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In a lock comprising a tubular spindle having a free outer end and a slot therein extending longitudinally inwardly from said outer end, a hand hold on said spindle having an outwardly facing opening thereon, and a removable key-actuated mechanism including a rotatable key plug, an extend'able and retractable gate and a laterally extending tumbler housing, the combination of means for holding said key-actuated mechanism in engagement with said lock comprising a split cap, said cap including an inwardly facing shoulder thereon, said cap being anchored against endwise movement between said hand hold and said spindle, said gate in extended position being located behind said shoulder of the cap, thereby to secure said key-actuated mechanism against removal, said gate in re tracted position being clear of said shoulder of the cap to effect removal of said key-actuated mechanism from the spindle and the hand hold.

2. In a lock comprising a tubular spindle having a free outer end and a slot therein extending longitudinally inwardly from said outer end, a removable key-actuated mechanism including a rotatable key plug, an extendable and retractable gate and a laterally extending tumbler housing, and a hand hold on said spindle having an outwardly facing opening therein, the combination of means for holding said key-actuated mechanism in engagement with said lock comprising a split cap, said cap including an inwardly facing shoulder thereon, a flange extending over a surface of said spindle, said cap being anchored against endwise movement between said hand hold and said spindle, sai-d gate in extended position being located behind said shoulder of the cap, thereby to secure said key-actuated mechanism against removal, said gate, in retracted position, being clear of said shoulder of the cap to effect removal of said key-actuated mechanism from the spindle and the hand hold.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,686,665 10/1928 Jacobi 373 1,992,125 2/1935 Hurd 70224 3,077,100 2/ 1963 Gerlach 70224 3,125,877 3/1964 Fryer 70224 3,149,485 9/1964 Russell 70224 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A LOCK COMPRISING A TUBULAR SPINDLE HAVING A FREE OUTER END AND A SLOT THEREIN EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY INWARDLY FROM SAID OUTER END, A HAND HOLD ON SAID SPINDLE HAVING AN OUTWARDLY FACING OPENING THEREON, AND A REMOVABLE KEY-ACTUATED MECHANISM INCLUDING A ROTATABLE KEY PLUG, AN EXTENDABLE AND RETRACTABLE GATE AND A LATERALLY EXTENDING TUMBLER HOUSING, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID KEY-ACTUATED MECHANISM IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCK COMPRISING A SPLIT CAP, SAID CAP INCLUDING AN INWARDLY FACING SHOULDER THEREON, SAID CAP BEING ANCHORED AGAINST ENDWISE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID HAND HOLD AND SAID SPINDLE, SAID GATE IN EXTENDED POSITION BEING LOCATED BEHIND SAID SHOULDER OF THE CAP, THEREBY TO SECURE SAID KEY-ACTUATED MECHANISM AGAINST REMOVAL, SAID GATE IN RETRACTED POSITION BEING CLEAR OF SAID SHOULDER OF THE CAP TO EFFECT REMOVAL OF SAID KEY-ACTUATED MECHANISM FROM THE SPINDLE AND THE HAND HOLD. 